A fugitive from New Jersey crashed into one police car, backed into another and struck a parked car, a home and a tractor-trailer while fleeing from law enforcement Tuesday afternoon in Easton, authorities said.

Matthew Johnson (Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com)

Matthew Johnson, 32, of Hampton, was taken into custody after the Chevrolet Silverado he'd been driving became disabled shortly after 2 p.m. on St. John Street at West Nesquehoning Street on the city's South Side, according to New Jersey State Police.

The pickup was stolen out of Oxford Township, police said. Johnson allegedly had with him inside the truck a CO2-powered pellet gun, starter pistol and methamphetamine.

He was taken by ambulance to St. Luke's University Hospital in Fountain Hill for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries suffered in one of the crashes, police said.

No serious injuries were reported by police.

Johnson, once he is released from the hospital, will be sent to Northampton County Prison, according to New Jersey State Police.

State police said they are charging him with eluding and receiving stolen property. Easton police filed additional charges with District Judge Daniel Corpora of reckless endangerment, drug possession with intent to deliver, receiving stolen property, fleeing or attempting to elude police and driving under suspension, in addition to four counts of aggravated assault.

The charges for which Johnson was wanted as a fugitive from justice were assault and terroristic threats, state police said. Details of those allegations were not immediately available Wednesday afternoon.

State police gave the following account of Tuesday's pursuit and series of crashes:

"On Tuesday, January 23, detectives from the New Jersey State Police Fugitive Unit, Troop 'B' Tactical Patrol Unit, Perryville Station, the U.S. Marshals Service Eastern Pennsylvania Regional Fugitive Task Force and the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office were in the area of Valley Station Road in Warren County when they observed Johnson drive past them in a blue Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck.

"Troopers from the Troop 'B' Tactical Patrol Unit observed Johnson ... traveling on the entrance ramp to Interstate 78 west from Asbury-Bloomsbury Road. At 2 p.m., troopers in marked troop cars attempted to stop Johnson in the area of milepost 6.2 in Greenwich Township, but he refused to stop and accelerated.

"Troopers continued to follow Johnson, with their lights and sirens activated as state police dispatch notified and provided a vehicle description to the Pennsylvania State Police and Easton (PA) Police Department. Johnson was pursued into Pennsylvania where he exited Interstate 78 at Exit 75 in Easton as troopers continued to follow with the assistance of the Easton Police Department and Pennsylvania State Police.

"While southbound on North Folk Street, Johnson attempted to swerve head-on into a troop car, which was traveling northbound in the opposite direction. The trooper was able to take evasive action, but was struck on the driver's side front and side door. After striking the troop car, Johnson struck a parked car and continued south on North Folk Street.

"When Johnson attempted to make a right turn on West Nesquehoning Street, he lost control and struck a residence on the corner of North Folk and West Nesquehoning. After the collision, troopers pulled behind him, but he backed his truck into a troop car, forcing it into the roadway.

"He then fled west on West Nesquehoning, entering the intersection of West Nesquehoning and St. John Street where he struck a tractor trailer, causing his vehicle to become disabled. Johnson was then taken into custody without incident."